The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-10-16
Tho Montana Outbreak.

Tho report made by Special Agent Howard.
who was hurriedly sent to Investigate the
trouble among the Crow Indians. shows that
~ Importance was not exaggerated. Yet
there are features In tho affair which Justify
the conservative course pursued by Gen.
TERRY and Gen. RUaRR. and by the officers
immediately In charge Of the troops at the
agency. While small part Of the Indians
dedautly discharged their rifles around sew
erai of the Government buildings. 1t appears
that they "fired at the roofs. j" and that the
asont who was In front Of his house at the
time was not moiested. As Fort Custer 10
close by. troops were promptly called In. and
while the indiana made night Uf 1t with their
shooting and bowling. NO serious hostilities
were indulged In. Fewer than score Of the
hfge e,tba were engaged In the demonstra-
Hons against the buildings. and many lndi-
EAs have voluntarily denounced the conduct
Of these few BeeideS 1t Is alleged that tho
PieRans, old enemies Of the Crows, are out
In raiding parties, 90 that the proposed ar
rest OF the Crow band who had BEEN plum
derin9 the Piegans may we'll have excited
some temporary feeling against the agent,
evon among these who cav on reflection
that he had done his duty In endeavorlng to
put down horse Stealing.
Taking together the ANAL number of the
riotous indiana and their rsfraining from
injury Of the agent the trpops seem conf
dent Of being able to restore quiet The
great body Of the Grown we'll understand
that they have everything to loss end
nothing 10 gain by h0stillties. They own
very large and valuable reservation a great
part Of which they might lose by going upon
the warpath. A 10 the trDIble reported
from tho Crow Greek and Lower Brul6 res
ervations, that must be quite distinct. Both
reservations are In another Territory. Da-
kota, and the disturbances there arise out Of
the allotment measures provided by Con.
grees. The Crow Creek region has been the
scene Of much trouble during the lsst two
or three years. from an attempt to open
portion OF 1t to settlement. the movement of
whites 10 occupy It causing troops to In.
terfere.
That Montana and Dakota might become
the scene OF Indian trouble has long been
approhended. Settlement has been going
on rapidly In that direction. and 1t has be-
como necessary to 80 whether the vast
tracts cot apart for the Indians cannot he
reduced to the advantage Of all concerned.
The situation OF the tribee near the Cana
dian border makes their control somewhat
moro difficult. stu, there are forces enough
available. both In Montana and Dakota, for
al present purposes. Col. DUDLEY has there
ton troops Of the First Cavalry, half Of them
st Fort Custer. cluse by the Grow Agency.
and three troops at other stations In Mon
tanA Seven troOps OF the Seventh
Cavalry are In Dakota, at Fort Meade,
and Fort Yates. and another at
Fort Keogh In Montana. The entire
Third infantry, under Col. J. R. BROOKE. IL
stationed Ut various forte In the latter Ter
ritory, two companies at Fort Custer, four,
with the reRimental headquarters, at Fort
Shaw. and four at Fort Missoula. Seven
companies OF the Filth. Col. GIBSON. arc at
Fort keogh, and the remainder In Dakota,
In which latter Territory. also, are the entire
Twelfth Infantry. Col. E. F. TOWNSEND the
Fifteenth. Col. r. E. A. CROYDON. and six
companies Of tie 1wenty-titth Col. u. l.. AN
DRkws. Convenient for the support Of the
forces ut Fort Custer are those Of the Twen-
tietk Infantry Col. E. 3. OTIs, at Fort ASSN
ibolne. Fort Maginnis. and Camp Poplar
River. In Montana. 1t Is evident. therefore,
that there are forces enough In the two Ter
ritories, with such others AZ could be easily
sent from adjoining regions. to guard against
serious results from the existing troubles.